08/09/2010 12:00
President Obama, NATO Secretary Rasmussen hold closed talks
US President Barack Obama and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen held talks Tuesday in Washington, discussing issues related to the upcoming summit in Lisbon and allied partners’ efforts against challenges and threats.
The talks between Obama and Rasmussen were closed and followed Rasmussen’s brief conference with media.
“The President and the Secretary General discussed goals for the November 19 - 20 NATO Summit in Lisbon, including unveiling a new NATO Strategic Concept that reinforces the allied commitment to invest in 21st Century capabilities, particularly missile defense, cyber defense, and civilian-military capabilities; reforming NATO’s structures to make it more agile and efficient to take on the range of challenges that face allied countries today; and affirming NATO’s role as the hub of a network of security partnerships that advance global stability,” the White House press secretary said in the statement.
“The President looks forward to further discussing these issues with the Secretary General and other allied and ISAF partner leaders at the November Summit.
“He thanked the Secretary General for the significant NATO commitment to promoting peace and stability around the world, particularly in Afghanistan where nearly 50,000 non-U.S. ISAF troops, trainers, and civilians are serving alongside Americans with distinction,” it added.